A New Life for Old Books

Laura Breck

I haven’t written much lately and I can feel the rise of the publishing craving looming up and wanting to take over the rest of my life. I absolutely love having a new book out – the promoting, blogging, Facebook party, sharing excerpts. All the things that connect me to readers.

 

Trying to figure out a way to publish without having to take the time to write a book…that’s the difficult part.

 

But I do have two very long books that were published years ago and are mine again, thanks to the publisher going out of business. I’d love to rewrite these and republish them. Here are the stories:

 

-Secret Vegas Lives-

 

Antonio Daniato is a best-selling novelist, but he hides an addiction to a decadent nightlife. When he receives a letter demanding money in exchange for keeping his secret, he sets a trap to catch the blackmailer and is surprised when beautiful psychologist Valerie Kane falls into his arms. 

 

Terrified, Valerie swears she’s not the blackmailer, but refuses to disclose the reason she’s there. Antonio already knows her secret, and he’s captivated by her integrity, and shaken by the force of his desire for her. He schemes his way into her life, intent on seduction.

 

Valerie’s sheltered past did not prepare her for a man like Antonio, and she can’t resist the temptation. Despite their mutual distrust, they surrender to intense attraction, and she finds herself falling for the Harley-riding bad boy. When Antonio’s desire for Valerie becomes something deeper, he fears her reaction to discovering his secret life. But he can’t stop.

 

Seeing him struggle to break free from his addiction, Valerie risks her reputation and her family’s approval to help him, but he will not confide in her. When she stumbles onto Antonio’s decadent secret, she must choose to let him go, or fight for him against an obsession that may be stronger than their love.

-Scandalous LA Desires-

 

Lindsey Beauden earned her reputation as a conservative philanthropist and upstanding member of Los Angeles society.  Artist Dante Daniato earned his reputation as one of LA's most charming and eligible bachelors.  Opposites attract, and when they meet at a gala fundraiser at the Getty Museum, the red-hot chemistry is immediate and intense.  But an anonymous letter alerts Lindsey to the scandalous life Dante leads.  When the board of her family foundation condemns his notoriety and withholds funding from the inner city art program he’s involved in, she cannot risk linking her name to his.  She dissuades him despite the desire that shimmers through her at his every touch.

 

Intrigued, Dante finds her rejection a challenge and pursues her, intent on seduction.  When he unexpectedly falls for the selfless beauty, she surrenders to him, and their hunger for sensual pleasures awakens the beast in him, and the vixen in her.  But a sexy publicity stunt humiliates Lindsey and implicates Dante, and their perfect world is torn apart.  Lindsey will not believe Dante when he swears his innocence, and he leaves the country, angry and distraught.  When she uncovers the truth, she must follow him to Italy to beg his forgiveness, but has her distrust destroyed his love for her?

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Hmmm, I don’t know about those titles, either. They may have to be tweaked. But let me know what you think – are these books you’d like to read?

 

Have a wonderfully romantic day,

Laura

~Smart Women ~Sexy Men ~Seductive Romance

LauraBreck.com

~Dancing in a Hurricane is available in digital formats at Amazon, Smashwords, and Barnes & Noble and in paperback at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Createspace

~Love in the Land of Lakes is available in digital format at Smashwords, All Romance Ebooks, Barnes & Noble, and Amazon, and in paperback at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Createspace

Do You Love to Read? - Beta Read!

Laura Breck

If you love to read, you should consider becoming a beta reader. All you need is a good sense of what makes a book plot work (and what doesn't) and/or a basic understanding of grammar and spelling. (I'll explain the 'and/or' in each section below.)

There are at least three kinds of beta readers (that I know of):

1) Publisher's Acquisitions Reader

2) Publisher's Final Edits Reader

3) Author's Beta Reader

A publisher's acquisitions reader helps an acquisitions editor (AE) decide if they should contract the book for publication. The AE will send an e-mail to their group of beta readers asking which of them would like to read a 'fantasy werewolf romance' or a 'pirate historical' or a 'small town cowboy.'

Those who are interested read the book and complete a short questionnaire. The AE uses this feedback to decide if the manuscript is a good fit for their publishing house. For this job, a good sense of plot continuity and character development is essential. I'm a beta reader for a small publisher, and I love it. One week I'm reading a regency historical, the next, I'm deep into a shifter vampire story. For each manuscript I read, I am able to choose one free e-book from the publisher's website. It's a good deal!

A publisher's final edits reader performs the last check before a book is released by the publisher. The beta reader reviews the edited manuscript for grammar, spelling, and sentence structure. Usually, the beta is encouraged to point out any plot flaws that may still exist in the book. This is usually a paid position, and you may have to be tested on your grammar skills before being hired.

An author's beta reader is a trusted friend, family member, or acquaintance of an author who reads the final manuscript before it's submitted to a publisher or is self-published. By the time the beta reader sees the manuscript, it has usually been checked by the author's critique partner, and/or an independent editor. The beta reader checks for plot flaws, character issues, grammar, spelling…the whole thing.

An author relies on the beta reader to point out things they, their critique partner, and their editor missed. I have a wonderfully amazing critique partner, and we work together very well. When I send her a manuscript, she reads the entire book in a short period of time in order to keep the plot fresh in her mind. As she goes through, she makes any suggestions, such as, 'I don't think he would respond this way' or 'you brought up this point earlier but never resolved it' or 'I don't think that's physically possible.'

Then, she reads it again for grammar, spelling, typos, sentence structure, etc. and notes any errors she finds. If, when you read books, you roll your eyes at inconsistencies, or groan at typos, or hate that a plot point you'd been worried about for two hundred pages was never resolved, you would make a great author's beta reader.

How do you find these jobs? On Facebook, friend editors, publishers, and authors. Follow them on Twitter, check their websites, and watch writing news sources (such as blogs and forums.) There are online beta reading referral sites, too. They'll match you up with the perfect publisher or author. You can also contact your favorite author and offer to beta read for them. List your qualifications, your assurance of confidentiality, and your guarantee of integrity.

If this interests you, give it a try. It could be a first step into a career in editing, or a just a different spin on your everyday reading.

Happy reading,

Laura

LauraBreck.com

Secret Vegas Lives

Scandalous L.A. Desires

both available from Red Rose Publishing

A Sweet for Valentine's Day

Laura Breck

If you live anywhere near Napa Valley, California, stop into my niece Wendy's chocolate shop, La Foret.

 Here are a few very sweet photos to make your Valentine's Day richer.

If you're like me, and trying to lighten your load this year, here's a sweet sample of my latest release, Scandalous L.A. Desires. Fewer calories, but just as satisfying!

Dante worked through the night to finish the mural. The formal opening was the next evening and the paint needed time to dry.

Morning sun streaked through the windows as he yawned and made a few final brush strokes. Yesterday, he'd questioned the museum curator about the Beauden Foundation requesting his dismissal, but he'd assured Dante there would be no changes to the summer curriculum. Had Lindsey's family backed off their ultimatum? “I hope so,” he mumbled. His greatest satisfaction came from working with children. It nearly sidelined him when Lindsey had warned him he might lose his position with the outreach program.

Out of the corner of his eye, he saw someone at the playroom door. Strangely, he sensed it was Lindsey, but what would she be doing here? He turned to her. “Hi.”

She smiled. “Hi.”

He chuckled. “This is a different side of you.” She wore a black Minnie Mouse warm-up suit and bright red running shoes, her hair in a braid with a red polka-dot ribbon tied at the end.

“The hospital board asked me to remind you that you're welcome to take part in the ribbon-cutting ceremony tomorrow night.”

“I wouldn't miss it.” He set the paintbrush down and wiped his hands on his white painter's coveralls. “Are you on the board?” he asked as he walked toward her.

“I'm a new member, but I've volunteered since high school. One morning a week I play with the children. That's where I'm headed now.” She backed up half a step.

“That explains the outfit. You like children?” He stepped over paint cans and tarps.

“Yes, very much. They add so much to my life, and if I help these little ones and their families…” When he reached her and held out his hand, her sentence trailed off.

“Let me show you the mural. It's almost finished.” He stood with his hand out waiting for her to decide. He could see the hesitancy in her eyes as she looked around the room.

He smiled. “Will you come in and see it?” The bigger question was, did she trust him?

She tentatively put her hand in his, their eyes met, and he noticed that hazy look again. He fought the urge to pull her into his arms and kiss her breathless, and instead led her into the room, steadying her as she stepped over obstacles.

Still holding her hand, he stopped in the middle of the room and they turned to get the full effect of the painting. He heard her sharp intake of breath. 

“Dante, it is beautiful. I'm absolutely awestruck. It's like being under the sea—whales, fish.” She eased her hand from his and moved closer to the mural. “The coral is so lifelike, and how you captured the filtered sunshine. It's perfect. The children will love it.”

He heard a catch in her voice and when she turned to him, a ray of sunlight hit her face. The tears in her eyes sparkled. He took a step toward her, overwhelmed by the need to touch her.

“Lindsey.”

 

“Forgive me for being emotional. Just knowing how the children will appreciate it makes me happy.”

“Art is worthless if it doesn't evoke emotion.” He put his hand on her shoulder, then slowly moved his fingers down her arm. “I am humbled by your response.” He lifted her hand and kissed her fingers. He wanted to kiss her sexy, pink lips, hear her sigh, and see her eyes misty and unsure. He'd kiss away all her doubts…

Please stop by my blog to read the first chapter.

Hope your Valentine's Day is wonderful!
Laura

LauraBreck.com
Secret Vegas Lives
Scandalous L.A. Desires
both available from Red Rose Publishing
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Don't forget to check out Romance Biggest Winner 2 – a fun, social way to make 2012 a healthier, happier year! http://romancebiggestwinner.blogspot.com/